Date: Thu, 11 Mar 99 22:54:06 -0500 From: National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Subject: Louisiana Billboards, EBAH Action Blocked ********************************************** EQUALITY BEGINS AT HOME PRESS RELEASE Contact: Tracey Conaty, Communications Director 202-332-6483 ext. 3303 800-757-6476 pager tconaty@ngltf.org 2320 17TH Street NW, Washington, DC 20009-2702 http://www.ngltf.org ********************************************** ANTI-DISCRIMINATION BILLBOARDS BLOCKED; LOUISIANA EQUALITY BEGINS AT HOME EFFORTS FACE OPPOSITION WASHINGTON, DC --- March 11, 1999 --- Today as part of Equality Begins At Home activities in Louisiana, the Louisiana Electorate of Gays and Lesbians (LEGAL) were to unveil billboards in New Orleans to promote fairness and equality in the workplace. According to LEGAL, the company contracted to put up the billboards recently informed them that they would not do so and explained its decision by claiming the billboards are misleading to citizens of New Orleans because that city already has a non-discrimination ordinance. The billboards read: "Louisiana Says It's OK to Fire People Because They Are Gay. Is that Fair?" Billboards with the same text are already up in Baton Rouge, put up by another billboard company. LEGAL planned to soon have billboards in the cities of Lake Charles and Shreveport as well. "Today we hoped to unveil a billboard campaign intended to help eradicate discrimination. Instead, we are yet another example of gay and lesbian people being discriminated against," said Christopher Daigle, a member of LEGAL's board of directors. "We find the explanation by officials with the billboard company dubious at best. They have known the text of these billboards for some time, and it's obvious that the billboards are not targeting New Orleans, but rather the state of Louisiana," added Daigle. LEGAL has not yet announced what action it will take in response. In addition to the billboard campaign, LEGAL will host a statewide conference at Louisiana State University as part of Equality Begins at Home week. "This is exactly what Equality Begins at Home is about: educating people about the realities of the mistreatment of GLBT people in our nation and taking action to create lasting change, where we are all equal," said Tracey Conaty, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force communications director. Equality Begins at Home, the first-ever campaign of actions in all 50 states for equality, is turning into one of the largest political actions in the history of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender movement. Activists in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have organized more than 250 events to address issues of anti-gay discrimination, violence, and prejudice. Equality Begins at Home is coordinated by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and organized by the Federation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Statewide Political Organizations. LEGAL is a member of the Federation. -30- Louisiana Electorate of Gays and Lesbians (LEGAL) can be reached at 504-595-8586. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has worked to eliminate prejudice, violence and injustice against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people at the local, state and national level since its inception in 1973. As part of a broader social justice movement for freedom, justice and equality, NGLTF is creating a world that respects and celebrates the diversity of human expression and identity where all people may fully participate in society. The Federation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Statewide Political Organizations facilitates cooperation and communication among organizations whose primary mission is to seek state legislative change that benefits the GLBT community. _________________________________________ This message was issued by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Media Department. If you have a question regarding this post, please direct it to the contact at the top of this message. If you wish to UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, please send an email with "UNSUBSCRIBE PRESSLIST" in the subject and body of your email message to . You may also unsubscribe by visiting http://www.ngltf.org.